The Culture of Dimasas
The Dimasas beleive that there is a Supreme Deity in the world
called the Banglaraja. The Lord Banglaraja has seven sons who too
are worshipped. Out of the seven sons, the eldest Sibrai is the most
revered one. Apart from these seven deities, spirits of ill- will
and good wills are also worshipped. Sakainjeek - the dreaded female
spirits are the most feared ones. Madai - the invisible spirits are also
the feared ones. Apart from these the Dimasas believe in Clans. They
have both male and female Clans who have their own titulary deities.
Every year Dimasa Kachari family worships its diety before sowing
paddy. This small festive is known as Madai Khelimba. For the people who
die , Dimasas cremate them. The dead person is bathed with fresh water,
draped in new bright clothes and placed inside the house for the last
moments. The widow does not tie her hair till the body is cremated near
the river side.
An important institution of the village is Hangsao. It is an
association of unmarried boys and girls of the village. It is organized
for the purpose of working together in cultivation and lasts only for
one year. Round the year Hangsao s work together till a new group is
formed the next year.
They also have festivals Bushu and Hangsao in which they play
instruments ( no songs are sung) and dance in traditional forms
wearing specific dress and jewellery. The males put on the traditional
dresses like richa, rikaosa, paguri rimchau and rimchaoramai to perform
the folk dances. The females put on Rigu, rijamfini, rijamfinaberen,
rikaucha, rikhra, jingsudu etc. and wear ornaments like Kaudima, Khadu,
Kamautai, Longbar, Panlaubar. Chandraral, Rongbarcha, Enggrasa,
Jongsama, Ligjao, Jingbri.
.......The people which
we see in the normal day to day life are ones – who speak
the same language, wear almost the same clothes and have the
same variety of food. So where is the question of Tribes being
ALIVE come from? And do they exist. For all those who are in
doubt – there are tribes in India. Several of them and
covering all the parts of the country..........
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